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(11) | EP 0 011 468 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Stair mat |
| (57) A stair mat 10 comprising: a tread base sheet member 11 adapted to be fixed on a
tread 81 having at its front edge 83 an edge covering bead 14 adapted to cover the
forward edge 83 of the stairs 80; and a tread mat 12 adapted to be fixed on the tread
base sheet member 11 so as to be adjacent to the edge covering bead 14. |
[0001] This invention relates to a stair mat adapted to be installed on stairs, especially stairs arranged to the inside of the building.
[0002] In general, stair nosings are installed on the edge of steps for the purpose of preventing a person from missing his footing on the stairs and of obviating the danger of the missed footing, and carpeting is applied to the stairs for the purpose of giving an ornamentality, further of giving a sound absorption, a buffer action, a thermal insulation and a flexibility, conventionally the carpeting is fixed by stair rods.
[0003] However, with stair nosings, the sound absorption, the thermal insulation and the flexibility are lacking on the steps and the buffer action is insufficient, and with continuous stair carpets, the carpets are worn away at the edge of the steps. Such carpets should be changed when dirty, which is uneconomical. There is a tendency to connect the stair nosing and the narrow carpet in one united body, or to combine stair nosing and the narrow carpet separately installed on the steps. However, the former must be uneconomically changed when the stair nosing or the carpet is morn away or damaged and changing work is difficult, the latter is not fixed firmly and its installing work is difficult; furthermore it brings into existence undesirable dispersion, for it may be installed in a manner that the stair nosing and the carpet are put side by side or one above the other by driving in of nails or screwing.
[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a stair mat which can alleviate the problem of missed footing on the stairs and to obviate the danger of missed footing, by covering the edge of the stair, and which gives effects of nonski.d and cushioning, and further gives sound absorption, thermal insulation, flexibility and ornamentality.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a stair mat which can be easily installed on each of the steps, and being free of undesirable dispersion.
[0006] According to the invention there is provided a stair mat comprising: a tread base sheet member adapted to be fixed on a tread having at its front edge an edge covering bead adapted to cover the forward edge of the stairs; and a tread mat adapted to be fixed on the tread base sheet member so as to be adjacent to the edge covering bead. The tread mat can be easily and firmly fixed on each step, is free of undesirable dispersion, and can be easily changed according to the extent to which it is worn out, damaged, dirty, and the detached tread mat can be washed. The stair mat protects the forward edge of the step, and gives effects of non-skid and cushioning, further gives sound absorption, thermal insulation, flexibility and ornamentality. The stair mat can alleviate the problem of missed footing on the stairs and obviate the danger of missed forrting. The stair mat is economical and suitable for the stairs, and can diminish the quantity of carpet required.
[0007] A stair mat of the present invention may include a framing bead at the rear edge so as to form a tread mat securing area between the edge covering bead and the framing bead, the tread mat being installed on the securing area. The edge covering bead and the framing bead may each be provided with an inclined abutment surface or a securing groove, so as to cover the front and rear edges of the tread mat. This arrangement can prevent fraying out or falling out at the front and rear edges of the tread mat.
[0008] Furthermore a stair mat comprised as above-mentioned of the present invention may be provided with a fluorescent strip on the upper surface of the front edge of the tread mat or the edge covering bead. Thus the forward edge of the step can be visible in the dark at the night so as to maintain the safety of those going up and down the stairs.
[0009] To help understanding of the invention, various specific embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a stair mat according to the invention installed on the stairs of a building;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the stair mat of the present invention which is installed on the stairs of the building;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stair mat as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the stair mat of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stair mat as shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of the stair mat of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the stair mat of the present invention; and
Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the stair mat of the present invention.
[0010] A preferred embodiment of a stair mat installed on the stairs 80 of the building according to the present invention is generally shown by numeral 10 in
Figure 1.
[0011] The stair mat 10 includes a tread base sheet member 11 adhered on the tread 81 of the step 80, and a tread mat 12 adhered on the base sheet member 11.
[0012] The tread base sheet member 11 is integrally provided with a riser base sheet member 13 adhered on the riser surface 82 of the step 80 at the front edge, and is integrally provided with an edge covering bead 14 so as to cover the forward edge of the step 80 at the front edge and the upper edge of the riser base sheet member 13.
[0013] The tread base sheet member 11 and the riser base sheet member 13 are formed of semi-rigid synthetic resin and the edge covering bead 14 is formed of flexible synthetic resin, these are integrally produced by an extruder. The edge covering bead 14 is provided with a hollow portion so as to heighten the cushioning effect. The tread mat 12 is a common carpet, a deep-pile carpet or the like, keeping its fringes excepting the front edge in curl so as not to be frayed.
[0014] Further, the tread mat 12 is provided with a fluorescent strip 15 which is formed by incorporating short synthetic fibre having a fluorescent pigment blended therewith on the base cloth of the tread mat 12, at toP fvnnt edge,
[0015] Alternatively, the fluorescent strip 15 may be formed by weaving the long synthetic fibre having a fluorescent pigment blended therewith into the base cloth of the tread mat 12, or the fluorescent strip 15 may be provided at the edge covering bead 14. In this case, the fluorescent strip 15 is formed in a narrow strip of synthetic resin having a fluorescent pigment blended therewith, which is formed integrally into the edge covering bead 14 by the extruder so as to be incorporated in the edge covering bead 14.
[0016] A riser mat 16 is adhered on the riser base sheet member 13 of the stair mat 10. The riser mat 16 is a common carpet, a deep-pile carpet or the like, keeping its fringes in curl so as not to be frayed. The tread mat 12 can be replaced by felt, and can be cut into the various shapes, for example, rectangular, semi-circular, semi-elliptic, trapezoid, and so on.
[0017] In the installation of the above stair mat 10, first of all, double-faced adhesive tape is attached on the under-surfaces of the tread base sheet member 11 and the riser base sheet member 13. Then the tread base sheet member 11 is pressed onto the tread 81, setting the tread base sheet member 11 on the tread 81 of the step 80, so as to position the bent connecting portion between the tread base sheet member 11 and the riser base sheet member 13 over the forward edge 83 of the step 80. After the tread base sheet member 11 has been fixed on the tread 81, the riser base sheet member 11 is pressed onto the riser 82 of the step. Then, the tread mat 12 and the riser mat 16 are adhered on the tread base sheet member 11 and the riser base sheet member 13, respectively by the use of an adhesive agent or double-faced adhesive tape.
[0018] The stair mat 10 installed on the step 80 as above-mentioned, shows effects of sound absorption, cushioning and so on in addition to a non-skid effect. The position of the step 80 is made visible in the dark at the night, since the stair mat 10 is provided with the fluorescent strip 15 at the adjacent position to the forward edge 83 of the step 80. So a person can safely go up and down the stairs. The fluorescent strip 15 is not easily worn out and can maintain its luminosity for a long time since the fluorescent strip 15 is formed of the synthetic fibre having a fluorescent pigment blended therewith.
[0019] Figures 2 and 3 show another embodiment 20 of the stair mat of the present invention, which is adapted to the stairs 80 of the building.
[0020] The stair mat 20 includes a tread base sheet member 21 adhered on a tread 81 of the step 80, and a tread mat 22 adhered on a tread mat securing area 25 of the base sheet member 21.
[0021] The tread base sheet member 21 is integrally provided with an edge covering bead 23 covering the forward edge of the step 80 at the front edge, and is integrally provided with the framing bead 24 at the rear edge, so as to form the securing area 25 between the edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24.
[0022] The edge covering bead 23 is provided with a skirt 26 adhered on the riser 82 of the step, having hollow portions 27, 28 at the inside, and further having a serrated non-skid top surface portion 29.
[0023] The tread base sheet mcmber 21 is provided with a plurality of hollow portions 30 at the inside between the edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24. The edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24 are integrally formed of flexible synthetic resin, heightening the cushioning effect of the hollow portions 27, 28, 30.
[0024] The tread mat 22 may be formed of a sheet of brake lininc. a sheet mainly composed of carborundum, a sheet blended of non-skid particles (coating plate), a granulated sheet or the like, having high non-skid effect, which is fixed on the securing area 25 of the tread base sheet member 21 by the use of an adhesive agent or an adhesive tape.
[0025] The manner of the installation of the stair mat 20 is similar to that of the stair mat 10 as above mentioned.
[0026] By installing the stair mat 20 on the step 80, the stair mat 20 shows the effects of cushioning, sound absorption, and so on, in addition to the non-skid effect, since the tread mat 22 is secured almost all over the surface of the tread 81 of the step, and the edge covering bead 23 covers the forward edge 83 of the step 80 and the tread base sheet member 21 is between the tread mat 22 and the tread 81 of the step 80. A person can safely go up and down the stairs without a feeling of physical discomfort.
[0027] The tread base sheet member 21 of the stair mat 20 as above-mentioned is constructed having a flexibility in order to give the cushioning effect to the tread mat 22. However in order to strengthen the adhesive property and the maintenance, the tread base sheet member 21 may be formed of rigid synthetic resin and a flexible filler may be included between the tread base sheet member 21 and the tread mat 22.
[0028] The stair mat 20 comprised as above-mentioned can be firmly fixed on the stairs 80, whilst being easy to handle and install, and give the non-skid and cushioning effects. Further it impresses a person going up and down the stairs with a good foot feeling, without a feeling of physical discomfort at the portion between the edge covering bead 23 and the securing area 25.
[0029] Figures 4 and 5 show a further embodiment 40 of the stair mat of the present invention, which is adapted to the stairs 80 of the building.
[0030] The stair mat 40 includes a tread base sheet member 41 adhered on the tread 81 of the step 80, and a tread mat 42 adhered on the base sheet member 41.
[0031] The tread base sheet member 41 is formed of semi-rigid synthetic resin, which is integrally provided with an edge covering bead 43 covering the forward edge 83 of the step 80 at the front edge.
[0032] The edge covering bead 43 is formed of flexible synthetic resin integrally with the skirt 44 which is adhered on the riser 82 of the step 80..Further, the edge covering bead 43 has hollow portions 45, 46 at the inside so as to give the cushioning effect, and has a serrated non-skid top surface portion 29 to heighten its non-skid effect.
[0033] The edge covering bead 43 having the skirt 44 is formed integrally with the tread base sheet member 41 by the extruder. The tread mat 42 is a common carpet, a deep-pile carpet or the like, keeping its fringes in curl so as not to be frayed and a hemp cloth is adhered on the under-surface. The tread mat 42 is removably adhered on the tread base sheet member 41 so as to be adjacent to the edge covering bead 43 by means of double-faced adhesive tape on its under-surface.
[0034] The stair mat 40 comprised as above-mentioned can be installed on the step 80 by double-faced adhesive tapes at the under-surfaces of the tread base sheet member 41, the edge covering bead 43 and the skirt 44, in the same manner of the installation of the above-mentioned stair mat 20.
[0035] The stair mat 40 also shows the effects of sound absorption, cushioning, thermal insulation and so VIA, in addiiion to the non-skid effects. The tread mat 42 can be easily changed and can be washed. Further owing to it, it is easy to clean the stairs.-Figure 6 shows a modified embodiment 50 of the stair mat of the present invention. In a tread base sheet member 41, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stair mat 50 is provided with a plurality of metal nails 51.
[0036] The stair mat 50 includes the tread base sheet member 41 and the tread mat 42, the tread base sheet member 41 being integrally provided with the edge covering bead 43 having the skirt 44 at the front edge.
[0037] On the upper surface of the tread base sheet member 41 of the stair mat 50, the plurality of projecting nails 51 incline towards the edge covering bead 43. The tread mat 42 is fixed on the tread base sheet member 41 so as to hitch the hemp cloth of the tread mat 42 to these nails 51.
[0038] Therefore, the tread mat 42 can be easily secured and detached by moving the tread mat 42 in the inclined direction of the nails 51. It is to be desired that the tread base sheet member 41 may be formed of metal, for the nails 51 are formed of metal.
[0040] The stair mat 60 as shown in Figure 7, includes a tread base sheet member 61 adhered on the tread 81 of the step 80 and a tread mat 62 set on a securing area 25 of the base sheet member 61.
[0041] The tread base sheet member 61 is integrally provided with the edge covering bead 23 having the skirt, covering the forward edge 83 of the step 80, at the front edge, and is integrally provided with the framing bead 24 at the rear edge, so as to form the securing area 25 between the edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24. In order to strengthen the installation on the securing area 25 of the tread base sheet member 61, the edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24 are provided with inclined abutment surfaces 63, 64, respectively.
[0042] Therefore, if the tread mat 62 is secured in the securing area 25, abutting the front and rear edges 65, 66 to the inclined abutment surfaces 63, 64, respectively, the front and rear edges 65, 66 of the tread mat 62 are covered with the inclined abutment surfaces 63, 64. Thus the tread mat 62 is fixed on the securing area 25. Since the front and rear edges 65, bb of the tread mat 62 are covered with the inclined abutment surfaces 63, 64 respectively, falling out and fraying at the front and rear edges b5, 66 of the tread mat 62 can be prevented.
[0043] Further, if the base cloth of the tread mat 62 is dipped in dissolved rubber, the tread mat 62 can be firmly secured on the securing area 25.
[0044] The stair mat 70 as shown in Figure 8, has securing grooves 72, 73 which may be substituted for the inclined abutment surfaces b3, 64 in the stair mat 60 as above-mentioned.
[0045] The stair mat 70 includes a tread base sheet member 71 adhered on the tread 81 of the step 80 and the tread mat 62 secured on the securing area 25 of the base sheet member 71. The edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24 are provided with the securing grooves 72, 73 formed integrally with the front and the rear edges of the base sheet member 71 respectively.
[0046] Thus, the securing grooves 72, 73 are formed at the edge covering bead 23 and the framing bead 24, respectively, so the tread mat 62 is fixed on the securing area 25, with the front and the rear edges 65, 66 of the tread mat 62 inserted into the securing grooves 72, 73 respectively.
[0047] Therefore the tread mat 62 can be more firmly fixed on the securing area 25 in comparison with the stair mat 60 as shown in Figure 7, and falling out and fraying at the front and rear edges 65, 66 of the tread mat 62 can be prevented.
[0048] As above-mentioned, the tread mat 62 of the stair mat 60, 70 can be firmly fixed by the tread base sheet member 61, 71, and it is easy to handle and install the stair mats 60, 70. The tread mat 62 can be easily changed. Further, it is easy to clean the stairs and the tread mat 62 can be washed if the tread mat 62 is detached.
1. A stair mat comprising: a tread base sheet member adapted to be fixed on a tread
having at its front edge an edge covering bead adapted to cover the forward edge of
the stairs; and a tread mat adapted to be fixed on the tread base sheet member so
as to be adjacent to the edge covering bead.
2. A stair mat as claimed in claim 1, in which the tread base sheet member is provided
with a framing bead at the rear edge, the tread mat being detachably securable on
a securing area formed between the edge covering bead and the framing bead.
3. A stair mat as claimed in claim 2, in which the tread base sheet member is provided
with a plurality of nails projecting on the upper surface of the securing area.
4. A stair mat as claimed in claim 2, in which the tread base sheet member is provided
with inclined abutment surfaces at the edge covering bead and the framing bead, respectively.
5. A stair mat as claimed in claim 2, in which the tread base sheet member is provided
with securing grooves at the edge covering bead and the framing bead, respectively.
6. A stair mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tread base
sheet member is formed of flexible synthetic resin, and the tread mat is formed of
a non-skid sheet.
?. A stair mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tread base
sheet member is integrally provided with a riser base sheet member adapted to cover
the riser at the front edge.
8. A stair mat as claimed in claim 7 including a riser mat attachable to the riser
base sheet member,
9. A stair mat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a fluorescent
strip incorporated in the tread mat at its front edge or in the edge covering bead.